The primary goal of the Virtual Academy of Lafourche McKinney-Vento Program is to ensure homeless/transitional students stay in school by removing barriers to attendance.

 

This is done by the following:

• Providing school supplies/backpacks

• Providing school uniforms

• Providing after school tutoring

• Payment of school fees

• Documentation (birth certificates, immunization records, etc.)

• Case management

• Referral to community resources for student and their families

 

Who is considered homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act?
A student without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence is homeless. The definition does not change whether the student is living with a parent or is separated from parents. Under the McKinney-Vento Act, a student is homeless if he/she has a primary residence that is any of the following:

• Families doubled-up with friends or family, this includes families in which children and parents are in separate places

• Hotels or motels

• Families/individuals living in parks or camping areas

• Shelter/transitional living (i.e. disaster, domestic violence, homeless)

• Displaced due to natural disaster, lack of financial resources, etc.

• Vehicles or on the street

• Runaway or throwaway teens; abandoned children

• Families residing in sub-standard housing in need of great repair or with no utilities (i.e. running water, electricity)

 

Community Resources
-Lafourche Parish Office of Community Action (985)537-7603 or 1-800-794-3160
-Thibodaux Office of Housing and Community Development (985)446-7217
-Good Samaritan Thrift Store/Food Bank (985)537-7706
-St. Genevieve Helping Hands (985)446-5571
-Salvation Army (985)447-2520
-The Work Connection (985)446-3016
-Lafourche Parish Medicaid Office (985)449-5021 or 1-800-401-0132
-Lafourche Parish Mental Health (985)537-2638
-Catholic Social Services (985)876-0490
-LA. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
Section 8 Vouchers 1-800-955-2232
Foreclosure Relief Center 1-888-297-8685